History of Extreme Right-Wing Foreign Fighters
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| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
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| Citation | |
| Description | This chapter provides a comprehensive historical overview of extreme right-wing foreign fighters, tracing their evolution from the 19th century to the present day. It explores the ideological, geopolitical and military contexts that have shaped their participation in conflicts across Europe and beyond. Beginning with early conservative militancy, the chapter identifies the Spanish Civil War and World War II as pivotal moments in establishing transnational extreme right-wing combatant networks. It analyzes the ideological drivers behind their mobilization, including anticommunism, nationalism, fascism and, more recently, militant accelerationism. The Cold War era saw fluctuating relevance, with some fighters engaged in anticommunist struggles globally. A resurgence occurred during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s and intensified with the wars in Syria and Ukraine, where both sides attracted far-right volunteers. The chapter examines the complex interplay of motivations – from ideological solidarity to adventurism – and the shifting definitions of what constitutes a ‘foreign fighter’. It emphasizes how these individuals and networks reflect broader transformations in right-wing extremism, including its mainstreaming and transnationalization. Ultimately, this chapter offers a structured periodization of extreme right-wing foreign fighter involvement and highlights the implications for understanding contemporary security threats and far-right mobilization. |
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